Overseas HPAI Outbreaks Prompt Import Restrictions

A series of separate highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks have sparked import bans of poultry products in at least two countries. The U.S. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy has compiled several reports on outbreaks of H5N8 in Germany, Hungary, India, Israel and Switzerland, according to online meat industry publication Meatingplace. All of the impacted nations are taking precautions to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza and testing samples to monitor the situation. Meanwhile, Hong Kong banned the import of poultry and products from Germany and Hungary in the wake of the confirmation of the H5N8 virus. The region imported a total of nearly 10,000 metric tons of poultry meat from the two nations in the first nine months of 2016. Separately, the Ukraine News Agency reported an immediate ban on poultry imports from Hungary and Bulgaria following confirmation of HPAI and Newcastle disease virus. The Newcastle disease virus is highly contagious and can wipe out up to 90 percent of flocks in certain forms.